The creation of Napster in the late 1990s directly contributed to a seismic shift in the music industry, one to which major labels are still struggling to adapt. Selling music online is now one of the most lucrative options available to musicians, both independent and those signed to major labels. Projects with the support of major labels are able to benefit from placement in major marketplaces like iTunes and the Amazon music store, but exclusion from these markets doesn’t mean independent musicians are bereft of options. Here are five tips which can help the unsigned artist sell music and build a fan base.

• 1. Focus on Quality – The urge to build a sizable catalog in short order can be a difficult one to overcome, but flooding your online store with rough recordings essentially means you’re offering a lower quality than you’re capable of, and creating the false perception that you’re showcasing your best work. Instead, take your time and polish each song, to better demonstrate your true sound.
• 2. Build Your Own Format – Traditional recording contracts mean adhering to traditional release formats, something independent artists often cling to out of sheer habit. There’s no hard and fast rule saying you have to release a single, followed by a full length album, on a prescribed timeline. Offer all of your songs as single purchases, or build your own format. Finding what works best for you means you’re able to focus on quality over quantity.
• 3. Offer Secure Payment Processing – No matter how much your new fans love your music, most will be hesitant to hand over their sensitive financial information to someone they don’t know and have no motivation to trust. Instead of manually processing credit card payments, work with a trusted payment processing service provider like PayPal or Google Wallet.
• 4. Automate Content Delivery – Music lovers who purchase online expect to gain access to their new products immediately after submitting payment. Too many artists new to selling music online choose to monitor their own sales alerts and personally distribute download links, but the large margin of error makes it easy to miss an alert. Delayed delivery and missed orders are very damaging to your overall brand and reputation for customer service, so it’s always best to choose automated content delivery options whenever possible.
• 5. Promote, Promote, Promote – The truth is, you can’t sell music to people who don’t know your project exists, The key to success is proactive marketing, paired with great music. You’ll have to not only champion your own work, but find ways of attracting potential listeners who would otherwise be beyond your reach. This is where tools like affiliate network access can make all the difference, helping fans far removed from your personal social network discover your project.

The best way for a busy new musician or band to combine all of these important factor and address them through a streamlined system is to work with a dedicated ecommerce platform, like PayLoadz.com. Rather than spending all of your time juggling several different services and maintenance requirements, you can centralize operations at consolidate costs. Start selling music and earning a profit, building your band’s reputation on your way to stardom.

Find us at www.payloadz.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/payloadz Twitter: www.twitter.com/payloadz